Ashlyn Harris ready for battle to become starting goalkeeper for U.S. women's national team

Orlando Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris is ready for the challenge ahead of battling Alyssa Naeher for a starting role on the U.S. women's national soccer team in the wake of Hope Solo's suspension.

For seven years, since her first international call up, Ashlyn Harris waited and worked.

One day, it would happen, she hoped. One day, she dreamed, she would be the U.S. women's national soccer team's No. 1 goalkeeper.

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That day could be drawing near.

"I had some good talks with Jill this past week," Harris said of her national team coach Jill Ellis. "Right now, it's just about playing both of us, myself and Alyssa Naeher, getting us experience and, ya know, kind of just switching off every game, continuing to build for the future – and I think [Ellis] sees us as the future.

"These next three years is about playing a lot, getting a lot of caps, getting a lot of experience."

Three years until the 2019 World Cup in France, and the U.S. goalkeeping situation is up in the air.

Hope Solo was the starting goalkeeper for more than a decade, until U.S. Soccer terminated her contract and suspended the 35-year-old for six months following a series of behavioral issues capped by her calling Sweden "a bunch of cowards" after an Olympic quarterfinals loss this summer. The controversial decision, coupled with Solo's age, created an opportunity for Harris, 30, and Naeher, 28, who patiently excelled behind the scenes.

Ellis named Naeher, who plays club for the Chicago Red Stars, backup keeper for the Olympics over Harris, but she said the decisions was like "splitting hairs." Naeher won the role only because she played more while Harris recovered from an injury late last year, she said.

"The beauty is, we're two completely different goalkeepers and that's awesome to have and it's even better to have the freedom that that's OK," Harris said. "Our goalkeeper coach accepts us for who we are and what we bring to the table and he makes us better every day. I think we're going to continue to compete and push each other, and we're going to get better.

"A lot of people haven't see us, they've only seen us in club, but we're two damn good goalkeepers who haven't had a shot."

Orlando Pride coach Tom Sermanni said he believes Harris is more than ready for the challenge, calling her NWSL performance this season flawless.

"As you can imagine with the national team situation, it's been frustrating with the quality of goalkeeper that she is and with the lack of opportunities that she's had," Sermanni said. "When we look at videos of the game, I can't honestly remember going back and looking at a mistake that she's made, and for a goalkeeper, that's unbelievable. So, I think she's ready to take the opportunity and to step up and cement herself as the No. 1 goalkeeper in the national team."

Harris said she still has plenty of work to do before that happens, particularly expanding her range on crosses, extending her kicking game, increasing her power and distribution.

"So, I have a lot to do in the offseason in terms of tightening my body up and getting it really explosive," Harris said. "I'm pretty solid with one-v-one, I think we've seen that this year, but there are things, my shot-stopping ability, my athleticism . . . it's gonna be a tough offseason. I'm willing to put in the work, and now I see the light at the end of the tunnel."

Power rankings

1. FC Dallas (15-8-7, 52 points): Steadfast league leader is only team to already have clinched a playoff berth.

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2. Toronto FC (13-8-8, 47 points): Maintained first place in the Eastern Conference with a come-from-behind 3-3 draw against the No. 2 New York Red Bulls.

3. L.A. Galaxy (11-4-15, 48 points): Landon Donovan scored his first goal since returning from retirement second after subbing on to help the Galaxy earn a 2-2 draw against Sporting Kansas City.

4. Colorado Rapids (12-5-11 47 points): Coming off an unimpressive draw with San Jose, but the Rapids remain third in the West with two games in hand.

5. New York Red Bulls (12-9-9, 45 points): Failed to hold a 3-1 lead against Toronto to clinch the lead in the East.

6. New York City FC (12-9-9, 45 points): Draw with league-leading Dallas kept NYCFC tied in points and wins with the Red Bulls, but sitting one spot back at third in the East because of goal differential.

7. Real Salt Lake (12-10-8, 44 points): Suffered first loss at home this season against the West's last-place team, Houston, but remain firmly in playoff contention at fourth in the table.